Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as RFK Stadium, may not be well known to rugby fans, but in terms of sporting legacy it is held in the hearts of U.S sports fans.
Located just two miles due east of the U.S. Capitol building, the stadium has been home to an NFL team, two Major League Baseball teams, five professional soccer teams and two college football teams. It has hosted five NFC Championship games, two MLB All-Star Games, football World Cup matches and Olympic soccer games just to name a few.
Next up it’s first rugby match, Wales v South Africa.
Built in 1961, the stadium will host top-tier rugby for the first time as both sides kick off their summer campaign.
Wales will travel south to Argentina following the fixture in the U.S. capital whilst the Springboks head home to face England.
It is not just on the field that RFK is famous for. It is held in high regard by sports fans and Washington locals alike. Steve Goff, Sports Writer for the Washington Post, noted the following about the stadium after D.C. United’s final game their last season.
“RFK Stadium wasn’t built for soccer; it opened in 1961 as D.C. Stadium for baseball, football and concerts. But over the past 30-plus years, through multiple leagues and shared seasons with other local pro outfits, through D.C. United’s final home game on Sunday before relocating to a new stadium next season. In that time, RFK gained a mystique. It came from not only longevity and quantity, but the fact that, despite physical flaws acquired late in life, RFK had a heartbeat, a soul. It breathes (and belches).”
Tickets to see Wales take on South Africa at RFK Stadium, on Saturday June 2, can be found at www.walesvsouthafricarugby.com
